Long before Manny Ramirez was named a player-coach with the Iowa Cubs, he was already viewed as a mentor, helpful teammate and leader.

A pair of former teammates, Indianola native Casey Blake and Sioux City native Don Wengert, said they have fond memories of the former big-league slugger, who is expected to begin his new role with the Cubs sometime this month.

"One of the questions I would always get after I went to the Dodgers was, 'What's Manny like,' " Blake said. "And I guess my answer was always, 'I felt like he was a great teammate.' "

Ramirez, who hasn't played in the majors since 2011, is once again a big talking point after the Chicago Cubs signed the slugger to a minor-league deal.

The news has brought excitement to Principal Park and criticism to Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein for hiring the controversial slugger.

Ramirez, one of the most dynamic hitters of his era, crushed 555 home runs during 19 big-league seasons. But those accomplishments were often overshadowed by Ramirez, who was busted twice for violating Major League Baseball's drug policy and made headlines for his unusual antics on and off the field.

Blake got a first-hand look when they played together in Los Angeles during the 2008-10 seasons. Wengert was around Ramirez briefly while the slugger rehabbed with the Pawtucket Red Sox.

"I don't see it as much of a gamble," Blake said. "People are pretty excited about Manny Ramirez being in Iowa, being in Des Moines. I think it was fairly smart."

Blake, a career .264 hitter in the majors, said he was able to reap the benefits of having Ramirez as a teammate. He recalled Ramirez coming over to him after a tough game, putting his arm around him and trying to inspire him.

Blake said Ramirez would sometimes help with his swing if he noticed a flaw or an adjustment that needed to be made. Ramirez would even ask Blake for help at times.

"To me, that's a perfect example of what a good teammate is," Blake said.

Wengert saw some of the same things.

"He was there to help, any way he could, any of the young hitters," Wengert said.

Some consider the signing a risk, but Blake said he can see it benefiting many of Iowa's young hitters.

"He's got a ton of knowledge and a ton of experience," Blake said. "So if he can offer that to some of the young prospects coming up and help them get to the big leagues, I think that'd be a great service for him."

Blake said all the controversy around Ramirez hasn't tarnished how he views his former teammate.

"In the modern era, for a right-handed hitter, he's got to be right up there in the top one, two, three (hitters), in my book," Blake said.

Ramirez was as famous for his "Manny being Manny" behavior as much as he was for his bat. Was it a case of Ramirez being misunderstood?

"That's kind of warranted," Blake said of Ramirez's bizarre antics. "He did them and he did them regularly, it seemed like. It's hard to get those things misinterpreted."

Blake said he hasn't talked with Ramirez since they were Dodgers. But he didn't rule out stopping out to Principal Park to see him.

"It'd be nice to maybe come in behind the scenes a little bit and maybe come in the clubhouse and talk to him," Blake said. "I'm pretty sure he doesn't even know that I'm from Iowa."

Tommy Birch is a reporter for The Des Moines Register and can be reached at tbirch@dmreg.com